The largest lawyers' group in the U.S. voted last week to support legislation that would sharply limit the ability of people with asbestos injuries to sue asbestos manufacturers and other companies for damages.The ABA resolution calls on Congress to pass a law that lays out detailed medical criteria for a diagnosis of asbestos-related disease. If enacted, someone who has injuries from asbestos that do not meet the criteria would be barred from filing a lawsuit.

Reaction to the ABA criteria was generally unfavorable from organized labor, the White Lung Association, a national organization of people with asbestos-related disease as well as some physicians who diagnose and treat asbestos related disease.